Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2007

London, 2nd to 5th July 2007

What was the event?

The exhibition offered an opportunity to discover the best of the UK's science and technology research. With exhibits from all over the UK, visitors got the chance to meet and talk to the researchers themselves who are behind the work on show.

Forest Research's exhibit

A large part of the industry is dedicated to the production of wood for the construction of new homes. However, some of the trees cut down are processed before it is realised they are not strong enough for construction use. The research team is testing technologies that allow wood strength to be determined by measuring the speed at which sound travels through logs and trees. This process allows timber quality to be determined before processing.

This is a research collaboration of Forest Research, Fibre-Gen (New Zealand), Napier University and University of Glasgow and is striving to improve sustainability and increase efficiency in the UK forest industry.